Aliy recorded the last mile of her race as the team ran down Front Street and into the chute. Thanks to the lovely ladies who helped the team negotiate the entrance to the chute thanks to someone (ahem *Jefe*) dragging them onto the sidewalk!
She snapped this pic as the team were about to leave the shoreline and pop out onto Front Street.
As everyone waits for a flight home, the dogs are enjoying a lazy day. The crew gave them a choice of outdoors on a straw bed or in a kennel so they could decide for themselves where they wanted to be. Here’s a few pics from the Dog Lot today.
Last night Bridgett captured this pic of Cloud when she went to check on them before bed. Not sure where the rest of her body is?
Congratulations Aliy, Dutch Junior, QT, Spark, Decaf, Five, Rodney, Jefe, Cloud, Violet and Amber with important contributions from Chevie, Kodiak and Bruno. They have crossed the line in 18th position at 9.28pm this evening in Nome with a total time of 10 days, 7 hours, 28 minutes, 30 seconds.
They almost missed the chute as Jefe, in swing, spotted some people and dragged everyone onto the sidewalk to greet them. Poor Dutch and Spark in lead could do nothing to combat that!
Behind them was QT and Decaf, Five and Rodney, Cloud and Junior, Amber and Violet. Thanks to Karolyn for her excellent multi-tasking to catch the team, run backwards and video at the same time!
In the Insider Live Feed interview Aliy said that Cape Nome was challenging and she could hardly stand up due to the wind. When asked what she learned during the race she said she “learned that no matter what you just have to stay positive in life, things don’t always go your way – most of the time they don’t go your way – but that’s no reason to just get down and out about it. Stay positive, you’re still out here, you’re still alive, you’re doing what you want to do and put a smile on your face. Suck it up, Buttercup”
While she was talking to reporters you could hear the dogs yelling in the background to get moving again. A wonderful sound and sight at the end of 1000 miles. She was also greeted at the line by Jeff Deeter and Kelly Maixner, who finished ahead of her, which really shows the camaraderie amongst mushers.
This visual coverage from the live feed was a bit of a disappointment due to the blizzard blowing straight at the static camera but between those of us watching we got a few screenshots. Keep an eye out for the Insider Video later tonight.
Karoyn sent a couple of snaps from the dog yard – more soon but here’s Jefe and little Cloudy at rest.
Padee is back at the kennel looking after everyone and she went out side to tell them all that the team had crossed the line. They responded…
There are still a bunch of great teams out on the trail so there’s plenty more tracker watching to do to divert attention from all the other stuff going on.
Time 7.30pm Race Mile 961
The team have climbed almost to the top of Cape Nome and will see Nome ahead of them in just few minutes. They have 14 miles left to go.
The crew on the ground are very excited to see them, as are those of us watching from afar. It is very windy in Nome right now as we watch the live feed the banner and flags are getting a battering. We will be pleased to have them off the trail tonight. Jeff Deeter (16th finisher) said as he was travelling through the infamous blowhole there was no wind at all and it only started in the last stretch so that’s a nice surprise.
The crew have set up the dog yard with straw lined kennels, fleece lined jackets and blankets. There is a hot meal soaking and snacks have been readied – they’ll enjoy frosted beef snacks in the chute.
Once the team arrives they will be greeted by the crew, race officials, volunteers and Nome locals. Aliy will have her mandatory gear checked (vet book, trail mail, ax, sleeping bag, booties, snowshoes, cooker) and sign into a checkpoint for the last time and be officially off the trail. They’ll then make their way down to the dog yard where the vet crew will give the dogs a thorough post race vet exam. The dogs will then get dressed into their pyjamas, have a meal and will be left to sleep for a few hours while the volunteers watch over them in the safe and secure dog yard.
Aliy will head back to the accommodations, will also get into her pyjamas and have a meal and be left to sleep for a few hours. She doesn’t get the vet check though and no one will watch over her as she sleeps. That would be weird.
We might not hear from the crew for a while but I will post some images from the live feed once they cross the line for those that can’t see it live.
GO TEAM!
Returned Dog Update
Chica, Chevie and Kodiak are confused at new lead dog Midnight
As Aliy and the team close in on Nome we’ve been reflecting on the race a little and wanted to share with you some lessons we’ve learned from Aliy Zirkle in the 2020 Iditarod:
1) Sometimes things don’t work out as you might have wished. You can either pout about it or you can take some time to reconcile yourself to it then carry on, giving it all you’ve got. As Aliy says in the banner at the top of our website: “For me it’s simple: do the absolute best I can do. If I can honestly do that… then I will be satisfied.” Also Aliy: “Suck it up, Buttercup”
2) Positivity in challenging times is important and rubs off on those around you. We’ve heard how much Aliy’s encouragement to those travelling near her, and the sharing of her wisdom and experience has been appreciated by her fellow mushers.
3) Perseverance conquers all. Perhaps not necessarily conquers all this year but Aliy and the team kept on keeping on and that is inspiring.
4) When the whole world around you is losing their heads (and perhaps quite rightly so – I am not trying to diminish the seriousness of the situation), spend time with your loved ones – in this case her dog team – because at the end of the day, that is what’s important.
5) Doing what you love is reward unto itself. We’re sure Aliy would not have wished to be anywhere else these last 10 days.
6) If you are kind and good to people when things are going well, they will stick by you when things don’t go so well. Here is where we’d like to thank those of you who continued to follow along with us even when it became clear she would not be competing for the win or a top 10 finish. SP Kennel has the best fans, sponsors and supporters! Thanks!
What else have you learned this year? Let us know in the comments.
Congratulations Thomas Waerner! What a spectacular run and what a thrill for him, his family and his team.
Time: 11:40am Race Mile 906
Aliy and her team left White Mountain at 10.30am for the final 77 miles to Nome. She left with Dutch in single lead followed by Junior and QT in swing, Spark and Decaf, Five and Rodney, Jefe and Cloud and Violet and Amber in wheel. According to the tracker they are moving nicely down the trail.
Thanks to Padee back at the kennel and Barbara we have some screen shots of the team leaving from the Insider Live Stream.
Don Bowers Junior described this leg to Safety:
The trail leaves White Mountain on the Fish River for about three miles, and then leaves the river to cut overland to the southwest, crossing low, rolling tundra and several streams before reaching the Klokerblok River. It runs up the river and across some low ridges, and then crosses into the drainage of the Topkok River.
The trail then turns west and climbs over a series of barren ridges to a 400-foot saddle just northwest of Topkok Head, overlooking the coast. It then descends sharply to the beach, reaching the Nome Kennel Club shelter cabin at the foot of the hill, 30 miles from White Mountain.
For the next 12 miles the trail runs along or just behind the dune line and the “driftwood line” on the shore. This stretch is wide open and is subject to winds of more than 80 miles an hour from the north, as well as blinding whiteouts. The trail will join the Nome-to-Council road (not plowed in the winter) at the Bonanza Ferry bridge and then follow it for the last 12 miles to Safety.
The team will then stop to check in at the checkpoint in Safety and Aliy will gather her race bib to cross the finish line. After that they will climb Cape Nome to get a view of the city below then drop down to the shore line before popping up onto Front Street for the run to the burled arch.
Returned Dog Update
News from Linda: Kodiak has been glued to me since the return. He wants to be snuggled and to be indoors. Chevie is very happy with her outdoor house and play area. She has been in the doghouse all night. I think I hear snoring…
Both dogs seem happy to have nothing to do but nap! They are following their mentor Midnight’s example.
Time 10:30pm Race Mile 876
Aliy and her 11 team mates Amber, Cloud, Decaf, Dutch, Five, Jefe, Junior, QT, Rodney, Spark and Violet, are 22 miles from White Mountain and 99 miles from Nome! They are running in 18th position, having made up a couple of spots over the last couple of checkpoints. Once in White Mountain they will have an eight hour mandatory rest before embarking on their final push to Nome.
Since I last wrote, the team left Koyuk and made their way to Elim in 7 hours, 11 minutes. They spent a hair under four hours resting in Elim before setting off for White Mountain at 6.05pm. Right now they are moving at a good clip (for being nearly 900 miles into the race) and have the village of Golovin in front of them. The community in Golovin come out in numbers to support mushers and teams through their main street and Aliy always stops to say “Hi” so don’t be alarmed if her tracker turns orange for a few minutes. Click this link to read Aliy’s story from her visit in summer 2017. (Edit: it seems the trail is bypassing the village this year rather than going down the main street)
The crew is still socially distancing in Nome. The weather there is warm, snowy and blowing with a “Brisk Wind Advisory” for the Norton Sound.
Returned Dog Update
Kodiak and Chevie are back in Anchorage with Linda! They arrived this afternoon and have been hanging out at their temporary houses for the afternoon. They’re both doing well and thank everyone for their concern. Thanks Linda for taking such good care of them! Kodiak would like your recommendations for movies to watch please. Let us know in the comments. He’s totally up for Netflix and chill.
Time 7:15am Race Mile 800
Returned Dog Update
According to the Current Standings, Aliy has had to leave two team mates behind. (EDIT: The standings were amended and she still has 11 team mates!) We know one is Chevie but unfortunately, at the time of writing, we are unsure of the second. Please bear with us as sometimes this information can take some time. Sometimes even, we might not find out until they are back so we will update you asap. I understand both dogs will likely be flown forwards to Nome where the crew there will meet them and give them their undivided attention until the rest of the team arrive.
Unfortunately, Iditarod rookie Chevie has been benched as she developed a sore shoulder and with still a couple hundred miles to go she needed to finish her race early. Aliy was really pleased to have her on the team and we are all so proud of her for getting so far into her first 1000 mile race! Good girl Chev!
At 2.29am this morning the team pulled in to Koyuk after 16 hours and 51mins since the last formal checkpoint. For Quest mushers and those used to camping this change in status of Shaktoolik would not have fazed them too much especially as they had their supplies, straw, fuel and a cabin.
After resting 4.5 hours in Koyuk, Aliy and her 11 team mates left at 7am for their trek to Elim in 19th place. The trail heads overland for about 15 miles before hugging the shore line most of the rest of the way to Elim, with the exception of Moses Point where they travel back overland. Don Bowers Jnr says “Moses Point is the tip of a long, low, narrow spit extending back to the west. Soon after you climb back off the ice, you will begin to see houses and cabins. This is old Elim, now used as a fishing camp. It was the main village until new Elim was built 30 years ago on high ground 15 miles west. It stretches for several miles along the spit.”
Back in 2017 Aliy made a summer time trip to the villages of Elim, Golovin and White Mountain in association with Matson, to give a little back to a few of the villages that welcome the Iditarod every year. Read her piece about Elim at this link.
I’ve always been fascinated by maps and atlases (or ‘atlantes’ according to one google search – the Greek plural of atlas), so I get a kick out of zooming the tracker right in to get a sense of terrain and environment. This zoomed snap of Moses Point looks like a piece of abstract art.
Interesting stuff happening up the front of the pack! It’s getting hard to look away from. And, we spotted a familiar face presenting Thomas Waerner with the Northrim Bank ‘Achieve More’ Award – Scotty Watkins! (Allen and Aliy’s son in law).
